IBPS Clerk: Common Recruitment Process for Customer Service Associates (CSA)

Conducted by: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Question paper languages: English, Hindi, as, bn, gu, kn, kok, ml, mni, mr, or, pa, ta, te, ur
Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-14

Notes and practice for IBPS Clerk are coming soon. Until then, this guide has the official pattern, marking, syllabus and links.

Exam pattern and marking

Online Preliminary Examination60 minutes100 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Online Preliminary Examination
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Negative marking	Question types
English Language	30	1	1/4	MCQ
Numerical Ability	35	1	1/4	MCQ
Reasoning Ability	35	1	1/4	MCQ

Online Main Examination125 minutes200 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Online Main Examination
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Question types
General / Financial Awareness	40	—	MCQ
General English	40	—	MCQ
Reasoning Ability	40	—	MCQ
Quantitative Aptitude	40	—	MCQ

Local Language Proficiency Test

CRP CSA-XVI. Prelims: English 30/30, Numerical Ability 35/35, Reasoning 35/35, 20 min each, 60 min total; cut-off in each test. Mains: General/Financial Awareness 40 Q/50 marks/20 min, General English 40/40/35 min, Reasoning 40/60/35 min, Quant 40/50/35 min; 160 Q, 200 marks, 125 min. Penalty 1/4 of the marks of the question. Local Language Proficiency Test (qualifying) for those who did not study the language. No interview.

MCQ = single correct answer · MSQ = one or more correct answers · NAT / numeric = type a number. Negative marking is the number of marks deducted for a wrong answer.

Syllabus

66 subjects, topics and subtopics from the official syllabus. Tap a subject to expand it.

Explore the syllabus map

English Language11
- Reading comprehension
  - Comprehension passages
  - Vocabulary in context
- Grammar
  - Error detection
  - Sentence improvement
  - Fillers (single and double)
- Verbal ability
  - Cloze test
  - Para jumbles / sentence rearrangement
  - Word usage, word swap, phrase replacement
Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation19
- Arithmetic
  - Simplification and approximation
  - Number series (missing / wrong number)
  - Quadratic equations (comparison of roots)
  - Percentage
  - Ratio, proportion, partnership
  - Averages and ages
  - Profit and loss
  - Simple and compound interest
  - Time and work, pipes and cisterns
  - Time, speed and distance; boats and streams; trains
  - Mixture and alligation
  - Mensuration
  - Permutation, combination and probability
- Data interpretation and analysis
  - Tabular DI
  - Bar, line and pie chart DI
  - Caselet DI
  - Data sufficiency
Reasoning Ability21
- Puzzles and seating arrangement
  - Linear seating arrangement
  - Circular and square seating arrangement
  - Floor, box and scheduling puzzles
- Logical reasoning
  - Syllogism
  - Inequalities
  - Blood relations
  - Direction and distance
  - Order and ranking
  - Coding-decoding
  - Alphanumeric series
  - Input-output (machine)
  - Data sufficiency
- Verbal and critical reasoning
  - Statement and assumption / argument / course of action
  - Inference, cause and effect
- Computer aptitude (SBI mains)
  - Computer fundamentals, hardware, software, memory
  - Internet, networking, security
  - MS Office, shortcuts, database basics
General, Economy and Banking Awareness11
- Banking awareness
  - RBI: functions, monetary policy, circulars
  - Banking terms, products and regulation
  - Digital payments, UPI, fintech
- Economy and finance
  - Indian economy, budget, fiscal policy
  - Financial markets, SEBI, insurance
  - Government financial schemes
- Current affairs
  - National and international news
  - Static GK: organisations, capitals, currencies

Official sources

Always confirm details on the official website before applying.